Name: Andrzej Wajda (pronounced VY-da)
Place of birth: Suwalki, Poland
Date of birth: March 6th, 1926
Age upon release of his first feature film, a Generation: 28
Number of film credits as director listed at imdb since then: 45
Number of films screening in the Pacific Film Archive retrospective running January 16th through February 18th: 12
Films of his that I've seen before: a Generation, Kanal and Ashes and Diamonds, coincidentally the three playing at the PFA this weekend.
My personal favorite of those three: Kanal
Film most recently added to the PFA series: the Maids of Wilko, replacing the previously scheduled series closer Danton.
Highest-rated film according to imdb: Man of Marble
Second-highest: the Promised Land
Only film to have won the Cannes Palme D'or: Man of Iron
Writers who have published English-language pieces on Wajda on the internet: acquarello, Adam Bingham, Michael Brooke, Rahul Hamid, pacze moj, Matilda Mroz, Renata Murawska (interview) Elżbieta Ostrowska, Boris Trbac
The Wajda films I should make my highest priority to see (a.k.a. "Most Vital Wajda"): click here
Of the films listed, I've seen Kanal, Ashes and Diamonds, Man of Marble, Man of Iron and Danton. My favorite Wajda is one not included in the retrospective: Siberian Lady Macbeth.
ReplyDeleteOh, that opening shot in Kanal is truly a thing of beauty. I've seen the films you have and also Landscape After Battle, which I didn't enjoy very much.
ReplyDeleteHow timely this post is - just today I found and purchased "The Cinema of Andrzej Wajda" by Bolestaw Michatek at Green Apple! The pictures from "Ashes" look great.
That is opportune! Perhaps I'll see you at a screening...
ReplyDeletePeter, the S.F. public library has Siberian Lady Macbeth in its collection, so I shall take advantage.
I wish I could attend.
ReplyDeleteMaybe you could use your influence to encourage the PFA to schedule the films I want to see on nights I'm not otherwise engaged.
I finally caught up with Kanal last year and have to say that I like that the best of his trilogy. The others are very good too - but the whole metaphor of going underground [Dante inferno-like]. Plus the cinematography was amazing.
ReplyDeleteShahn- I will do my best.
ReplyDeleteMatt- Thanks for stopping by with a comment. I've admired your blog for quite some time.